U.S. patent application number 15/730813 was filed with the patent office on 2019-01-10 for roll paper towel or tissue dispenser with spring dampening roll support.
This patent application is currently assigned to DISPENSING DYNAMICS INTERNATIONAL, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is DISPENSING DYNAMICS INTERNATIONAL, LLC. Invention is credited to JOEL P. KEILY, ALEXANDER TRAMPOLSKI.
Application Number | 20190008333 15/730813 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64904149 |
Filed Date | 2019-01-10 |
![](/patent/app/20190008333/US20190008333A1-20190110-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190008333/US20190008333A1-20190110-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190008333/US20190008333A1-20190110-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190008333/US20190008333A1-20190110-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190008333/US20190008333A1-20190110-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190008333/US20190008333A1-20190110-D00005.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20190008333 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KEILY; JOEL P. ; et
al. |
January 10, 2019 |
ROLL PAPER TOWEL OR TISSUE DISPENSER WITH SPRING DAMPENING ROLL
SUPPORT
Abstract
Dispenser apparatus for dispensing from a roll of sheet paper
product supported by a support arm, a support member pivotally
mounted on the support arm and a biasing structure operable to
reduce the shock force in the sheet paper product by resisting
pivotal movement of the support member.
Inventors: |
KEILY; JOEL P.; (CORONA,
CA) ; TRAMPOLSKI; ALEXANDER; (EASTVALE, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DISPENSING DYNAMICS INTERNATIONAL, LLC |
City of Industry |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DISPENSING DYNAMICS INTERNATIONAL,
LLC
City of Industry
CA
|
Family ID: |
64904149 |
Appl. No.: |
15/730813 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62407674 |
Oct 13, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 2010/365 20130101;
A47K 2010/3881 20130101; B26F 3/02 20130101; B26D 1/626 20130101;
A47K 10/3809 20130101; B26D 1/425 20130101; A47K 10/3643
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/38 20060101
A47K010/38; A47K 10/36 20060101 A47K010/36; B26F 3/02 20060101
B26F003/02; B26D 1/42 20060101 B26D001/42; B26D 1/62 20060101
B26D001/62 |
Claims
1. Dispenser apparatus for dispensing a sheet of paper product from
a roll thereof, said dispenser apparatus comprising: first and
second roll supports spaced from one another for rotatably
supporting opposed ends of a roll of sheet paper product and
allowing rotation of said roll about an axis of rotation during
dispensing of said sheet paper product, at least one of said first
and second roll supports comprising a support arm structure
including a support arm and a support member on said support arm
and pivotally movable relative to said support arm for supporting a
roll end; and a biasing structure exerting a bias on said support
member to resist pivotal movement thereof, said support arm
structure operable to reduce shock force created in the sheet paper
product when a pulling force is applied to the sheet paper
product.
2. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said
support member comprises a hub.
3. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said hub
has a hub center axis corresponding to the axis of rotation of said
roll and wherein said hub is pivotally movable relative to said
support arm about a pivot axis.
4. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 3 including an
interconnection between said hub and said support arm at said pivot
axis.
5. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 3 additionally
including a pivot limiting structure limiting the degree of pivotal
movement of said hub relative to said support arm.
6. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pivot
limiting structure includes a slot defined by said support arm and
a projection projecting from said hub and located in said slot.
7. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said slot
is curved.
8. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said
projection maintains a slidable interconnection between said
support arm and said hub.
9. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said
biasing structure is a spring.
10. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said
spring is a tension spring extending between said support arm and
said hub.
11. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the pivot
axis of said hub is laterally offset from the hub center axis.
12. The dispenser apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the pivot
axis of said hub and the hub center axis are substantially
parallel.
Description
[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/407,674, filed Oct. 13,
2016.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to dispenser apparatus for dispensing
paper toweling or tissue from a roll and more particularly to
structure for dampening shock forces created when overspin slack is
created.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention addresses certain problems, including
the problem of "tabbing" occurring during use of a paper towel
dispenser. Tabbing occurs when a piece of towel tears off the sheet
when a user grasps and pulls the paper. Tabbing may occur with one
or two hand pulls and with wet or dry hands. Papers that absorb
water at the greatest rate are most likely to tab. The rate of
water absorbency varies by paper manufacturer and grade. Premium
grade papers tend to absorb water the quickest and are generally
harder to cut which leads to a higher rate of tabbing.
[0004] It has been found that tabbing occurs when overspin slack is
taken up and/or when a blade on the dispenser is utilized to cut
the paper. A "shock" is present at the moment the overspin slack is
exhausted. The shock occurs because the stationary roll towel must
begin rotating at the moment that the overspin slack is exhausted.
The shock is greatest with full rolls and diminishes as the roll is
exhausted.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 7,500,420, issued Mar. 10, 2009, discloses an
approach for addressing the "tabbing" problem. More particularly,
the device shown therein dampen the shock through the utilization
of shock absorbing nip rollers incorporated in the mechanism.
[0006] Other devices are used to control overspin rather than
dampen the shock so as to avoid the conditions that create the
overspin shock forces; however these devices are expensive and
increase the average pull force required to dispense the
toweling.
[0007] The following patent documents are believed to be
representative of the current state of the art in this field: U.S.
Pat. No. 6,553,879, issued Apr. 29, 2003, U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,751,
issued Feb. 3, 2004, U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,431, issued Apr. 23, 2013,
U.S. Pat. No. 8,899,508, issued Dec. 2, 2014, U.S. Pat. No.
5,078,033, issued Jan. 7, 1992, U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. US
2009/0039099, published Feb. 12, 2009 and U.S. Patent App. Pub. No.
US 2016/0157682, published Jun. 9, 2016.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0008] The present invention deals with the problems of "tabbing".
The invention is characterized by its simplicity, reliability and
effectiveness of operation.
[0009] The device of this invention operates by absorbing the shock
force created when toweling overspin is depleted and the force
required to overcome the moment of inertia of the roll to get the
roll spinning when the force is applied. By reducing the peak shock
force the toweling is less likely to tab.
[0010] The device of this invention incorporates a moveable roll
support with built-in dampening. A moveable roll hub is employed to
allow dampening.
[0011] More particularly, the device is a dispenser apparatus for
dispensing a sheet of paper product from a roll thereof and
includes first and second roll supports spaced from one another for
rotatably supporting opposed ends of a roll of sheet paper product
and allowing rotation of said roll about an axis of rotation during
dispensing of the sheet paper product when a pulling force is
exerted thereon.
[0012] At least one of said first and second roll supports
comprises a support arm structure including a support arm and a
support member on said support arm and pivotally movable relative
to said support arm for supporting a roll end.
[0013] A biasing structure exerts a bias on the support member to
resist pivotal movement thereof. The support arm structure is
operable to reduce shock force created in the sheet paper product
when slack exists therein between the roll and the location where
the pulling force is applied to the sheet paper product.
[0014] Other features, advantages and objects of the present
invention will become apparent with reference to the following
description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective, frontal view illustrating the back
portion of a paper toweling dispenser housing having roll support
arm structures constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention projecting therefrom, the dispensing mechanism of
the dispenser not being illustrated;
[0016] FIG. 2 is exploded, perspective view illustrating components
of the support arm structures;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged outer side view of one of the support
arm structures and showing a roll of toweling supported thereby in
a resting position and with roll slack underneath an approximated
paper path to a dispenser mechanism shown in diagrammatic fashion;
a vertical line tangent to the resting roll position being shown
for reference purposes;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a hub
of the arm support structure pivoted and a spring of the arm
support structure stretched, absorbing the overspin shock force,
the roll displaced away from the vertical line tangent;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, except that the leading
edge of the toweling is loaded from the front instead of the
back;
[0020] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, perspective, outer side view of a
support arm structure without springs attached thereto; and
[0021] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, perspective, inner side view of the
support arm structure as shown in FIG. 6 with the hub at resting
position; and
[0022] FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but showing the hub at max
downward position.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring now to the drawings, a rear housing portion of a
paper toweling dispenser incorporating the teachings of the present
invention is illustrated, the housing portion being designated by
reference numeral 10. The dispenser incorporates two support arm
structures 12 which are used to rotatably support a roll of paper
toweling to be dispensed. FIGS. 3-5 illustrates a supported paper
toweling roll 14.
[0024] As is also conventional, the illustrated toweling dispenser
will include a dispenser mechanism including a toweling support
roller 20 which rotates during the dispensing operation and the
toweling exits a dispensing opening (not shown). A retractable
cutter blade operatively associated with the toweling support
roller similar to the arrangement disclosed in above-referenced
U.S. Pat. No. 7,500,420 may be utilized, but is not illustrated nor
required to practice the present invention. The present invention
is applicable to deal with virtually any type of paper toweling
overspin wherein toweling overspin slack due to towel pull presents
a problem.
[0025] The system of this invention may be utilized as the sole
means for dealing with overspin shock or it may be utilized in
conjunction with other systems, such as those referenced above,
which address the problem at the dispensing mechanism employed in
the dispenser.
[0026] In the disclosed invention of the invention the support arm
structures 12 operate to absorb shock force created when toweling
overspin is depleted and the force required to overcome the inertia
of the roll to get the roll spinning by pivoting the roll when the
force is applied. By reducing the peak shock force the toweling is
less likely to tab.
[0027] In the illustrated embodiment such support arm structure 12
includes a support arm 30, proximal end portions of which are
attached to the housing. The support arm structure also include
roll end support members or hubs 32 which are mounted on the
support arms at locations spaced from the locations of attachment
of the support arms to the housing.
[0028] The support members 32 are pivotally mounted on the support
arms. Pivoting takes place about pivots formed by recess defining
elements 36 on the support arms and pivot stub shafts 38 on the
hubs positioned in the recesses. The axes of pivot rotation of the
hubs 32 are offset from the centers of the hubs.
[0029] The support members or hubs 32 include retention tabs 40
which enter slots 42 in the support arms to maintain the connection
between the support arms and the support members while allowing and
limiting the degree of pivotal movement of the support members (and
toweling roll supported thereby), relative to the support arms.
[0030] The support arm structures also include springs 50
connecting the support arms and the support members or hubs. The
springs are positioned to stretch and exert a bias to absorb shock
force.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows roll of toweling 14 in a resting position with
a roll toweling slack underneath. The slack deviates from the
normal path of movement of the toweling to a representative
mechanism towel dispensing including toweling support roller 20 and
nip rollers 52.
[0032] FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, except that the support member
32 has been positioned near maximum damping or maximum pivot and
the spring stretched absorbing the overspin shock force.
[0033] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, except that the leading edge of
toweling is loaded from the front instead of the back.
[0034] In FIGS. 7 and 8 the hub 32 is shown respectively at
minimal/maximum travel positions.
* * * * *